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DALLAS BARNETT AGAINST NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Publication: New Zealand Herald
Ruling Categories: Columnists
Headlines and Captions
Offensive Language
[1] On 27 September 2019 the New Zealand Herald published an opinion piece authored by Mike Hosking entitled 'Now we know just how dangerous Green MP Julie Anne Genter is'. The focus of the piece was on Ms Genter's refusal to release, under the Official Information Act 1982, a letter she authored. It is suggested by Mr Hosking that this letter indicates that Ms Genter had threatened to bring the current Labour led Government down by "quitting and pulling the Government apart". Mr Hosking suggests that the refusal to release the letter is evidence of surreptitious, or Machiavellian behaviour by Ms Genter and coupled with the "economic madness" of her policies "goes a long way to warning the rest of us just how dangerous she really is".
[2] Dallas Barnett complains that the piece was designed to instil rage in the coalition government's detractors and to prompt targeted harassment and threats against Ms Genter. He suggests that similar media activities overseas have led to tragic consequences and references the murder of Jo Cox, a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament who was killed in the lead up to the Brexit referendum. He suggests that the treatment of Ms Cox by various media outlets in the United Kingdom led her killer to target her. He considers that Mr Hosking's piece is in a similar vein and contains dangerous rhetoric, which is "irresponsible, immoral and dangerous".
[3] Mr Barnett considers that the media are very influential and have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the general public and, in particular, public figures. He further suggests that the rise in far-right rhetoric and nationalism is fuelled by publication of this sort of opinion piece. He finishes by calling the culture at New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) (and the character of some people who work there) into question as promoting misogyny and bullying, stating that the opinion piece in question is a perfect example of that toxic culture being weaponised.
[4] Mr Barnett considers that Media Council principle 5 (Columns, Blogs, Opinion and Letters); and principle 6 (Headlines and Captions) have been breached.
[5] Mr Barnett's complaint was considered by the New Zealand Herald's senior newsroom editor. He states that the article is clearly presented as comment, with the author's name used in the headline, a photo byline and the word 'comment' stated in bold capitals at the start of the article; the headline accurately conveys the article's concluding remark.
[6] In his initial response to Mr Barnett the editor observed that while Mr Hosking is "not everyone's cup of tea he is entitled to his opinion" proceeding to reject the assertion that the article in any way encourages physical harm against Ms Genter. In his formal response to the Media Council the editor elaborates on these points. He notes that the piece is clearly presented as a comment piece and that the complaint does not challenge any of the facts contained within it.
[7] The editor considers that the use of the words 'surreptitious' and 'Machiavellian' were criticisms of a government minister's professional conduct. This is something about which Mr Hosking is perfectly entitled to express an opinion. The language fell well short of being incendiary and there was nothing in the column to instil rage, or to prompt harassment of an elected official.
[8] The editor suggests that is a 'long-bow' to draw an analogy with the murder of Jo Cox noting that there was no evidence in that case that the killer was radicalised by the mainstream media. Any suggestion that that event should prevent or restrict media scrutiny and analysis of New Zealand politicians' conduct is unrealistic.
[9] The editor notes that Mr Barnett is entitled to his opinion about Mr Hosking and other employees of NZME, but there is nothing toxic about the column and it falls well short of bullying.
[10] Principle 5 requires that opinion must be clearly identified as such, and requirements for a foundation of fact pertain. Principle 6 requires that headlines should accurately and fairly convey the substance or a key element of the report they are designed to cover.
[11] Here the piece is clearly labelled 'Comment'. The views put forward by the author are based on the publicly available facts relating to the letter authored by Ms Genter. This is a point Mr Barnett impliedly accepts as there is no suggestion in his complaint that the facts underpinning the piece are incorrect.
[12] As noted by the editor, the Council has said a number of times previously that readers do not have the right not to be offended. While the Council accepts that some people will be offended by the Mr Hosking's comments, there has been no breach of the Media Council's principles in this instance. It is an opinion piece, properly based upon facts. The headline accurately reflects Mr Hosking's view and the substance of the piece.
Principles 5 and 6 – Columns, Blogs, Opinion and Letters; Headlines and Captions: Not upheld.


The Life Insurance Corporation of India was founded in 1956 when the Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance of India Act that nationalised the private insurance industry in India. Over 245 insurance companies and provident societies were merged to create the state owned Life Insurance Corporation.
The Oriental Life Insurance Company, the first company in India offering life insurance coverage, was established in Kolkata in 1818 by "Anita Bhavsar" and others. Its primary target market was the Europeans based in India, and it charged Indians heftier premiums. Surendranath Tagore had founded Hindusthan Insurance Society, which later became Life Insurance Corporation.


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Campus News • Society & Culture
Search committee named for dean of College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
by Sam Fahmy
Josef M. Broder named interim dean
Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten has appointed a committee to begin a national search to fill the position of dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Josef M. Broder, who has served as associate dean for academic affairs for the past decade, has agreed to serve as interim dean beginning Sept. 19.
Sheila Allen, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, will chair the 23-member search committee, which includes faculty from UGA's campuses in Athens, Griffin and Tifton, staff, students, and alumni, as well as government and agribusiness representatives.
Additional search committee members are:
• Gary Black, UGA alumnus and commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
• Cader Cox III, UGA alumnus, CEO of Riverview Plantation and UGA Research Foundation board member.
• Griffin Doyle, vice president for government relations at UGA.
• Michael Doyle, Regents Professor in the department of food science and technology and director of the Center for Food Safety at UGA-Griffin.
• Zippy Duvall, president of Georgia Farm Bureau and a member of the Georgia 4-H Foundation board of trustees.
• Haley Gilleland, a graduate student pursing a master's degree in animal science who recently earned her bachelor's degree from UGA and served as Collegiate 4-H vice president and lead camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.
• Stefani Hilley, administrative associate in the CAES Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a UGA Staff Council representative.
• Scott Jackson, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in the department of crop and soil sciences and director of UGA's Center for Applied Genetic Technologies.
• Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for UGA Extension, who most recently served as Southwest District extension director in Tifton.
• Jeffrey L. Jordan, professor of agricultural and applied economics at UGA-Griffin and director of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.
• Kay Kelsey, professor and head of the department of agricultural leadership, education and communication.
• Zenglu Li, associate professor of crop and soil sciences and principal investigator in UGA's Soybean Breeding and Molecular Genetics Laboratory.
• Francis "Abit" Massey, former president of the UGA Alumni Association, emeritus trustee of the UGA Foundation, president emeritus of the Georgia Poultry Federation and member of the UGA Research Foundation and UGA Real Estate Foundation.
• Laura Meadows, director of UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
• Kristen Navara, associate professor of endocrinology in the department of poultry science.
• Maria Navarro, associate professor of agricultural leadership, education and communication.
• Peggy Ozias-Akins, professor of horticulture at the Tifton Coastal Plain Experiment Station and director of the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics.
• Anne Sapp, UGA alumna and chair of the Georgia 4-H Foundation board of trustees.
• Steven Stice, GRA Eminent Scholar in the department of animal and dairy science and director of UGA's Regenerative Bioscience Center.
• Michael Strand, Regents Professor in the department of entomology.
• Ron Walcott, professor of plant pathology.
• Franklin West, assistant professor of animal and dairy science.
The committee will be assisted by the UGA Search Group in Human Resources.
J. Scott Angle, who has served as dean of the college since 2005, recently announced that he will step down from his position to lead the International Fertilizer Development Center, a global organization that works to alleviate hunger.
Agriculture Appointments College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Education Environment News Release Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


EUFRAS - Is technology the way to improve farming?
In an agricultural market where gross margin and profitability are becoming increasingly tighter, the application of Precision Agriculture Technologies (PAT) can potentially contribute to a better economic, environmental and social farm performance. These technologies, including the use of information technology, satellite positioning data, remote sensing and proximal data collection, can optimise production efficiency, improve working conditions, increase farmers' income, and reduce unintended impacts on the environment.
The survey is available in English and translations in 22 other European languages can be found here in EIP-AGRI site.
The online survey will run until 10th of February 2019 and targets user of PAT as well as non-users.
Please share this information widely in your networks and invite advisors to encourage farmers to participate!
Home EUFRAS-Activities Archive Is technology the way to improve farming?


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[ July 9, 2019 ] The Great Elephant Debate: Legalising ivory trade will be a giant mistake	Magazine
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Ethiopia's faltering dependence on China: Leading by example?
June 20, 2018 Business 0
Photograph — blog.cimmyt.org
China's presence throughout Eastern Africa has become ubiquitous. From sprawling factories to road and rail construction, Chinese investment is often synonymous with infrastructure, aid and economic possibility. However, news that China will be slowing down its investment in Ethiopia, one of its major regional partners, could serve as a warning that Africans hedging their bets on China might come up shortchanged.
Beijing has invested billions into the Ethiopian economy as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, a globe-spanning investment scheme to build infrastructure and promote trade with China. Involving more than 60 counties around the world, Ethiopia is one of China's most important partners in Africa because of its role as a burgeoning logistics and manufacturing hub for targeting the European market. Yet despite this investment netting roads, industrial parks and factories, the country is still grappling with a lack of economic diversification and foreign exchange shortages.
Much in the same way African economists have criticized the continent's dependence on foreign aid as ultimately detrimental to self-sufficiency, it's becoming clear that overreliance on China could hurt Ethiopia in the long run. Putting all financial eggs in one basket has made the country vulnerable to both Chinese trading whims and political influence. But now, with China souring on future projects, and sensing impending economic hardship, Ethiopia was quick to seek out cash inflows from other countries.
As the main incentive for attracting new investments, it was announced last Tuesday that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will be opening sectors which were traditionally state-controlled monopolies. In the announcement the government encouraged foreign and domestic private investment in airlines, logistics, electric and telecoms industries. This is a surprising turnaround from the Prime Minister who as recently as April displayed remarkable reticence to opening these sectors to potential investors, causing fears that financial potential under his leadership would suffer from the same limitations as previous administrations.
However, the prospect of waning Chinese investment has clearly caused Addis Ababa to reconsider its rigid position on allowing investments from all over the world. While still hedging its bets, the realization that China is not the reliable partner it pretended to be also holds a unique opportunity for Ethiopia to embark on a new developmental path. After all, when Ahmed first stepped onto the scene early this year, he promised big changes for a country which has long been mired by political unrest.
Six months later, Ahmed has largely delivered on these promises, freeing hundreds of political prisoners, arranging for the release of Ethiopians imprisoned overseas, opening political discussion, and removing numerous restrictions on internet access. Most recently, Ahmed announced an end to the state of emergency that gripped the country since February and concluded an unconditional peace agreement ending years of conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. This "potentially historic" move indicates that Ethiopia is severing ties with its bloody past, and reaching out to its neighbouring partners to ensure mutual survival.
In doing so, Ahmed has sparked renewed interest from European and American investors who have long insisted on political and social reform as a prerequisite for doing business in the country. For instance, in 2016 the European Investment Bank promised $500 million to build industrial parks and potentially adding around 100,000 new jobs. However, with protests calling for political and economic reform skyrocketing under then-PM Hailemariam Desalegn, the investment project eventually stalled. Now that the country is emerging with a new leader and a new policy of relaxed investment restrictions and improved human rights, it is possible that the EU and US will start viewing Ethiopia as a more viable investment opportunity again.
Ethiopia's lesson is one that neighbouring Djibouti would do well to pay attention to. Djibouti has long courted Chinese investment by leveraging its role as Beijing's strategic gateway to Addis Ababa. Indeed, over 95 percent of Ethiopia's trade passes through Djibouti, making it one of the pocket-sized country's main sources of revenue.
Much of that economic value was unlocked thanks to Chinese investment. Beijing's fingerprint extends into almost every sector, ranging from infrastructure to basic goods. China even built a military base in the country last August, putting it at a strategic advantage for trade routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. And while Djibouti is comfortable to lean exclusively on China, it has alienated other key international trading partners in the process.
The Doraleh Container Port is one of Djibouti's most important economic assets and serves as the main access point for goods bound for Ethiopia. However, a recent dispute with UAE-owned DP World over who would run the port has created international unease. DP World was given a 30-year contract to run the port in 2006. However, Djiboutian authorities unilaterally terminated the contract and seized control of the port in February, with the office of President Ismail Omar Guelleh stating the port would remain in the hands of the government.
The move against DP World has alarmed the US about the extent of Chinese influence in the country – especially since the seized port is expected to be handed over to Beijing as a sign of gratitude from president Guelleh. Apart from sending the message that companies other than Chinese ones are not welcome in Djibouti, the country is on a path to greater international isolation as it closes off options for economic diversification while becoming increasingly beholden to China. With Beijing showing increasing stinginess in Ethiopia, Guelleh's decision to embrace China could very well backfire dramatically.
The twin cases of Ethiopia and Djibouti form a cautionary tale to other African countries deciding to increase their dependency on China to unsustainable levels. While Addis Ababa is taking steps in the right direction, it must be noted that it was for too long too comfortable with Beijing underwriting its economy. Only when China signalled to axe its funds did the leadership awake to the economic realities and seek to create an investment-friendly climate. For countries like Djibouti, however, the allure of easy Chinese money remains too great – with dire consequences for regional stability should the money stop flowing.
SOURCE: venturesafrica
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Botswana's High Court ruled for LGBTQI rights in the southern African country on Tuesday — another historic decision in favor of equality, diversity and dignity. [read more…]
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© 2016 The Local Africa News. All Rights Reserved


Thomas Maier Books: Video and MSNBC Story: The Kennedys Legacy- What Does JFK Inaugural Mean 50 Years Later?
Video and MSNBC Story: The Kennedys Legacy- What Does JFK Inaugural Mean 50 Years Later?
Here's a video about President Kennedy's Inaugural, as well as a MSNBC story about the legacy of JFK and what he meant for America.
"The Kennedy image of a wonderfully attractive, energetic, aspiring family was in many ways the American ideal," author and historian Thomas Maier, who wrote The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings told BLTWY.
For Maier, Kennedy's inauguration speech, that cold January day "marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the new America we live in. This is when it started," he says. An an Irish-Catholic, Kennedy symbolized the fact that America was now officially more than a white Anglosaxon nation, Maier says.
Naturally, amid all the events Thursday -- the Congressional event, the Caroline Kennedy led tribute with civil rights leaders and astronauts, the concert in the evening at the Kennedy Center and the TV specials — there will be many different takes on what JFK's presidency means to America. As The National Symphony Orchestra Everyone has their own way of making sense of a relationship that tragically ended, of separating reality and nostalgia.
Furthermore, amid all the photographs and videos of JFK's charming smile, Jackie's perfect wave and the happy little children, there's something a little eery. Perich described the feeling of walking through Avedon's portraits of this glamorous family, taken right before he took office.


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REQUEST LISTING
Source : PR Newswire
Companies : UCB Pharma S.A.
UCB Full Year Report 2020: UCB - Sustaining Growth, Now and Into the Future
BRUSSELS, Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "We are very impressed by our employees and partners for their resilience and achievements during 2020. Together we continued to serve patients, took good care of each other and joined forces in the global response to COVID-19. 2020 was another year with good performance in execution of our patient value strategy, ensuring sustained growth for the company also in the longer term," said Jean-Christophe Tellier, CEO UCB. "For the first time we share our growth ambition for 2025, despite upcoming patent expirations. Based on our strong portfolio and the promising late-stage pipeline, we aim to lead in specific populations by 2025, creating value for patients now and into the future. Also, we made progress in the sustainability areas that are critical to our long-term success and our contribution to society."
UCB's 2020 financial results
2020 revenue reached € 5.3 billion ( 9%;
8% at CER). Net sales went up by 8% to € 5.1 billion ( 7% CER), driven by the sustained growth of UCB's key products.
Underlying profitability (adjusted EBITDA2) reached € 1.4 billion ( 1%; -4% CER) reflecting higher investments into the future of UCB, namely product launches and product development.
Driven by other expenses, profit was to € 761 million (-7%, -14%) of which € 732 million (-7%; -15% CER) is attributable to the UCB shareholders.
Core EPS[3] were € 5.36 after € 5.20 in 2019.
The Board of Directors of UCB proposes a dividend of € 1.27 per share (gross), 2%.
Acquisitions and agreements
In October 2020, UCB acquired a new campus located in Windlesham, Surrey for its U.K. operations supporting cutting-edge research and development, early manufacturing and commercialization of medicines. The acquisition reflects UCB's commitment to retain the U.K. as one of its three global hubs for research and development, alongside Belgium and the U.S.
In November 2020, UCB acquired Handl Therapeutics, a rapidly growing and transformative gene therapy company based in Leuven, Belgium and entered into a new collaboration with Lacerta Therapeutics, a Florida based clinical stage gene therapy company. The new acquisition and collaboration will together serve to rapidly accelerate UCB's ambition in gene therapy.
Regulatory approvals
Vimpat® (lacosamide) - In October 2020, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion on a license extension for the anti-epileptic drug Vimpat® as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS) in adults, adolescents and children from 4 years of age with idiopathic generalized epilepsy – approved in the European Union in December 2020.
In November 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vimpat® as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older and Vimpat® injection for intravenous use in children four years of age and older.
R&D update
Bimekizumab - In September 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted marketing application submissions for bimekizumab for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
In July 2020, the Phase 3b study BE RADIANT, comparing bimekizumab to Cosentyx® (secukinumab) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, met all co- primary and ranked secondary endpoints, achieving significantly greater efficacy than secukinumab.
Dapirolizumab pegol: in August 2020, UCB and its partner, Biogen, included the first patients into the Phase 3 program with dapirolizumab pegol in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) despite standard-of-care treatment. First headline results are expected in H1 2024.
Rozanolixizumab: UCB is focusing its resources to new patient populations with autoantibody mediated neuro-inflammation and high unmet medical need. With these patients potentially benefitting from rozanolixizumab, UCB is preparing the start of two clinical programs already during 2021 – next to the ongoing Phase 3 studies in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). People living with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) are a heterogenous and complex patient population, with approximately only 30% having detectable autoantibodies. While the Phase 2a study in CIDP patients supports the conduct of a confirmatory clinical study, UCB decided to prioritize autoantibody mediated neuro-inflammation indications over CIDP.
Bepranemab (UCB0107) Initiation of a Phase 2 study in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is planned for mid-2021, following the partnership agreement with Roche/Genentech. This will allow to evaluate the potential of bepranemab in a tau-mediated disease and subsequently explore options in different tauopathy populations, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
In context with the pandemic, there are no changes to the expected timelines for the late stage pipeline projects.
Net sales break-down by core product
Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) - €1799 million ( 5% Act, 7% CER): for people living with autoimmune and inflammatory TNF mediated diseases, driven by continued growth in the U.S. and stable net sales in Europe despite volume growth, reflecting the competitive landscape. Strong growth contributors were new patient populations in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Vimpat® (lacosamide) - €1072 million ( 10% Act, 12 CER), continues to reach more and more people living with epilepsy, reflected in strong growth in all regions.
Keppra® (levetiracetam) - €788 million ( 2% Act, 5% CER), for patients living with epilepsy, the continued generic erosion in the U.S. has been compensated by recovery from a local, one-time rebate adjustment in 2019 in Europe and continued growth in international markets including in Japan where the UCB team took over distribution of E Keppra® from partner Otsuka in October 2020.
Briviact® (brivaracetam) - €288 million ( 31% Act, 33% CER), for people living with epilepsy, is driven by significant growth in all regions Briviact® is available to patients. Briviact® has a different mode of action from Vimpat® and differentiates from Keppra®
Neupro® (rotigotine) - €319 million (-2% Act, -1% CER), the patch for Parkinson's disease, was almost stable in a competitive market environment
Nayzilam® (midazolam) Nasal SprayCIV, a nasal rescue treatment for epilepsy seizure clusters in the U.S. is successfully launched since December 2019 and reached net sales of € 26 million.
Evenity® (romosozumab) had its first European launch in March 2020, for the treatment of severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture, and reported net sales of € 2 million, impacted by the pandemic which significantly impedes outreach to new patient populations. Evenity® is being launched globally by Amgen, Astellas and UCB since 2019, with net sales outside Europe reported by Amgen and Astellas.
2020 FY financial highlights
Revenue in 2020 increased by 9% ( 8% CER) to € 5 347 million and net sales increased by 8% ( 7% CER) to € 5 052 million. Net sales before "designated hedging reclassified to net sales" were €5 022 million with a plus of 5% ( 7% CER). This growth was driven by the resilient UCB product portfolio - despite the pandemic.
Royalty income and fees were € 96 million, plus 22% and benefitting from a one-time royalty recognized. Other revenue increased by 28% to € 199 million due to higher contract manufacturing, milestones and other payments from R&D partners.
Gross profit reached € 3 984 million, with a plus of 9% ( 8% CER) and reflecting a slightly improved gross margin compared to 2019.
Operating expenses went up to € 2 891 million ( 14%; 16% CER) reflecting
· 10% higher marketing and selling expenses of € 1 221 million - driven by the launch of Cimzia® in active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in the U.S. and the launches in Japan and China, the launch of Nayzilam® in the U.S. and Evenity® in Europe as well as launch preparations for bimekizumab for people living with psoriasis, zilucoplan and rozanolixizumab in myasthenia gravis and include expenses in connection with accelerated digital transformation in the pandemic context to better interactions, targeting and marketing
· 23% higher research and development expenses of € 1 569 million – which include for the first time the R&D expenses for the acquired Ra Pharma, Engage Therapeutics and Handl Therapeutics R&D programs. Ongoing high investments in UCB's progressing pipeline encompass five late stage assets and include expenses in connection with digital transformation for better patient experience and faster development time. Slightly lower R&D expenses due to the pandemic related to the recruitment pause in the first half 2020 were compensated by higher pandemic related expenses for the safety of patients as well as ensuring patient recruitment in the second half of the year. Hence, the R&D ratio reached 29% in 2020 after 26% in 2019.
· with 1% almost stable general and administrative expenses of € 196 million, reflecting lower costs due to COVID-19 pandemic compensated by digital business transformation activities and the contribution to the UCB fund (€ 5 million) in connection with COVID-19 pandemic.
Other operating income doubled to € 95 million after € 48 million in 2019 - driven by an income of € 96 million in connection with the commercialization of Evenity® in collaboration with Amgen, after an income of € 8 million in 2019, compensating mainly UCB's marketing & selling as well as R&D expenses. UCB's share to the total Evenity® contribution has turned to positive earnings for the first time. In 2019, "other" operating items were impacted by one-time positive contributions from investment grants, gain on divestiture and release of provisions.
Underlying operational profitability – adjusted (recurring) EBITDA[4]- reached € 1 441 million ( 1%, -4% CER) driven by continued revenue growth and higher operating expenses, reflecting the investments into the future of UCB, namely into product launches and clinical development. The adjusted EBITDA ratio for 2020 (in % of revenue) reached 27%, from 29% in 2019.
Total impairment, restructuring and other income/expenses (formerly called "non-recurring") were expenses of € 122 million after € 50 million in 2019. In 2020, this includes fees related to the acquisitions, restructuring expenses and an increase of provisions. In 2019, UCB strengthened its operating model to ensure maximum agility to meet the growth expectations for the years ahead, leading to higher restructuring expenses.
Net financial expenses went down to € 93 million from € 107 million in 2019, thanks to lower hedging costs, reduction of interest payable due to the repaid bond in March 2020, compensated by higher interest expenses due to the debt financing of the Ra Pharma acquisition.
Income tax expenses were € 119 million compared to € 146 million in 2019. The effective tax rate is 13% after 15% in 2019.
Profit amounted to € 761 million (after € 817 million), of which € 732 million (after € 792 million) is attributable to UCB shareholders and € 29 million (after € 25 million) to non-controlling interests.
Core earnings per share, which reflect profit attributable to UCB shareholders, adjusted for the after-tax impact of to be adjusted items, the financial one-offs, the after-tax contribution from discontinued operations and the net amortization of intangibles linked to sales, reached € 5.36 after € 5.20 based on 189 million weighted average shares outstanding ( 1%)
Dividend - The Board of Directors of UCB proposes a dividend of €1.27 per share (gross), 2%.
Outlook 2021: For 2021, UCB is aiming for revenues in the range of € 5.45 – 5.65 billion thanks to the current core product growth and new patient populations being served, based on current assessment of the ongoing pandemic. UCB will continue to advance its late stage development pipeline and prepare upcoming launches to offer potential new solutions for patients.
Underlying profitability, adjusted EBITDA, is expected in the range of 27 - 28% of revenue, reflecting the high R&D and marketing & sales investment levels. Core earnings per share are therefore expected in the range of € 5.60 – 6.10 based on an average of 189 million shares outstanding. The figures for the outlook 2021 as mentioned are calculated on the same basis as the actual figures for 2020.
Outlook for 2025: For the first time UCB shares its growth ambition for 2025, despite upcoming patent expirations. Based on the strong product portfolio and the promising late-stage pipeline assets, UCB aims to lead in specific populations by 2025, creating value for patients now and into the future. Revenue in 2025 are expected to reach at least € six billion and the underlying profitability (adj. EBITDA) should reach the low to mid-thirties in percent of revenue.
Outlook 2021 & 2025: Based on UCB's current assessment of the Covid-19 pandemic, UCB remains confident in the fundamental underlying demand for its products in the short-term and its prospects for long-term growth. UCB will continue to closely follow evolving COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences to the business environment diligently to assess potential near- and mid-term challenges.
Changes to the Board of Directors: In October 2020, UCB announced that at the UCB Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2021, Evelyn du Monceau will have reached the statutory age limit and will step down as Chair and Director of the Board of UCB SA/NV. She will retire from the Board after 4 years as UCB's Chair and over 35 years as UCB Board member.
The mandates of Albrecht De Graeve, Viviane Monges and Roch Doliveux will expire at the Annual General Meeting of April 29, 2021 (AGM 2021). Roch Doliveux informed the Board that, for personal reasons, he will not be candidate for a further renewal of his mandate and will therefore leave the Board and UCB at the end of the term of his current mandate (i.e. the AGM 2021).
The Board will propose the following appointments to the AGM of April 29, 2021:
· The appointment of Mr. Stefan Oschmann as independent Director. If elected by the AGM 2021, Stefan Oschmann will become the Chair of the Board in replacement of Mrs. Evelyn du Monceau.
· The appointment of Mrs. Fiona du Monceau as Director. If elected by the AGM 2021, she will become Vice Chair of the Board in replacement of Pierre Gurdjian, who will stay in the Board as independent Director for the remainder of his mandate. Fiona du Monceau is a representative of the Reference Shareholder and does not qualify as independent Director in accordance with the criteria of the 2020 Code.
· The appointment of Mr. Jonathan Peacock as independent Director. Jonathan Peacock meets all criteria of the 2020 Code and the Board to qualify as independent Director. If he is elected by the AGM 2021, Jonathan Peacock will become the Chair of the Audit Committee in replacement of Albrecht De Graeve.
· The renewal of the mandate of Albrecht De Graeve as Director. Albrecht De Graeve will qualify as independent Director only for the first year of his renewed mandate of 4 years (until the General Meeting of 2022). If re-elected, Albrecht De Graeve will stay as independent member of the Audit Committee for one additional year (until the General Meeting of April 2022). From the General Meeting of 2022 until the end of his mandate (2025) Albrecht De Graeve will remain non-independent member of the Board and will no longer be member of the Audit Committee.
· The renewal of the mandate of Mrs. Viviane Monges as independent member of the Board. If her mandate is renewed by the AGM 2021, Viviane Monges will remain independent member of the Audit Committee.
· In January 2021, UCB announced the cooptation of Professor Susan Gasser as new member of UCB's Board of Directors, to be ratified at UCB's next General Assembly on April 29, 2021. Prof Gasser replaces Professor Alice Dautry who has reached the statutory age limit. The cooptation of Prof Susan Gasser was conducted in accordance with both the statutory rules of UCB and the BCCA. If approved at the next general assembly, Prof Gasser will qualify as an independent Board member and serve a 4-year mandate. She would also be appointed as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Board.
The mandate of Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) will end at the AGM 2021. By application of the European and Belgian mandatory rotation rules applicable to external auditors, PwC is no longer eligible for re-election as an external Statutory Auditor. Based on a selection process overseen by the UCB Audit Committee, the resultant recommendation and approval by the company's works council, the Board will therefore propose the appointment of the audit firm Mazars Bedrijfsrevisoren - Réviseurs d'Entreprises CVBA/SCRL as its statutory auditor for a mandate of 3 years (legal term) at the AGM of April 29, 2021."
Sustainability is UCB's business approach and critical to long-term success and UCB's contribution to society.
· In this context, the company made progress to enable access to its solutions for all patients who need them and started to report on the access performance.
· As part of the broader aim to foster a positive working environment for all employees, UCB launched of a new health safety and well-being index.
· UCB continued to work to minimize its impact on the environment and to protect our planet's health, working towards ambitious environmental targets.
2020 also saw a sustainability governance framework established comprised of the new internal Sustainability Governance Committee and an External Sustainability Advisory Board that gathers external experts to provide an outside perspective on UCB's approach. As of 2020, UCB is a participant in the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and UCB committed to make the UN Global Compact and its principles an integral part of its business strategy, day-to-day operations and organizational culture.
Find the FY financial reports on UCB website: http://www.ucb.com/investors/Download-center
Today, UCB will host a conference call/video webcast at 08.00 (EST) / 13.00 (GMT) / 14.00 (CET).
Details are available on https://www.ucb.com/investors/UCB-financials/Full-year-financial-results
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 7 600 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 5.3 billion in 2020. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will", "continue" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of UCB, or industry results, to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: the global spread and impact of COVID-19, changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms or within expected timing, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, competition from other products including biosimilars, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws, and hiring and retention of its employees. There is no guarantee that new product candidates will be discovered or identified in the pipeline, or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Movement from concept to commercial product is uncertain; preclinical results do not guarantee safety and efficacy of product candidates in humans. So far, the complexity of the human body cannot be reproduced in computer models, cell culture systems or animal models. The length of the timing to complete clinical trials and to get regulatory approval for product marketing has varied in the past and UCB expects similar unpredictability going forward. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to disputes between the partners or may prove to be not as safe, effective or commercially successful as UCB may have believed at the start of such partnership. UCB' efforts to acquire other products or companies and to integrate the operations of such acquired companies may not be as successful as UCB may have believed at the moment of acquisition. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products and/or devices after they are marketed. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of UCB's products that implicate an entire class of products may have a material adverse effect on sales of the entire class of affected products. Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment, including pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement activities and outcomes. Finally, a breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UCB's data and systems.
Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any of such forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labelling in any market, or at any particular time, nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be or will continue to be commercially successful in the future.
UCB is providing this information, including forward-looking statements, only as of the date of this press release and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report or reflect any change in its forward-looking statements with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless such statement is required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
Additionally, information contained in this document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
[1] CER = constant exchange rates
[2] adj. EBITDA = adjusted (recurring) Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization charges. In compliance with the ESMA Alternative Performance Measures guidelines, recurring EBITDA, is renamed into "adjusted EBITDA". The calculation methodology remains unchanged.
[3] Core EPS = core earnings per share
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140810/UCB_logo.jpg
SOURCE UCB
2022 Copyright All rights reserved.
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How to see the list


On April 6th 2012, the St John's South March Choir performed "Requiem" by Gabriel Faure.
Joining the choir were the Cantiamo Girls' Choir and soloists Michael Carty, baritone, and Dorren Taylor-Claxton, soprano.
Our own Laura Hawley arranged and conducted.
The performance was recorded: compact discs are available from the church for $10.


text:
package com.simplegame.server.bus.equip.dao;

import com.simplegame.core.data.accessor.dao.ICacheInitDaoOperation;
import com.simplegame.server.bus.equip.entity.RoleEquipSlot;

/**
 *
 * @Author zeusgooogle@gmail.com
 * @sine 2015年8月14日 下午6:45:38
 *
 */

public interface IRoleEquipSlotDao extends ICacheInitDaoOperation<RoleEquipSlot> {

    public boolean updateDb(RoleEquipSlot roleEquipSlot);

    public boolean deleteDb(String roleId, String id);

    public RoleEquipSlot selectDb(String roleId, String id);

    public RoleEquipSlot getRoleEquipSlotFromDb(String roleId, int slotNum);

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
COVID-19 UPDATE: We are open! Our team is working and offering consultations via phone, e-mail, and video conferencing.
Mark S. Davis
Michael K. Livingston
Loretta A. Sheehan
Matthew Winter
Thomas M. Otake
Amalia Fenton
Kirsten Fisher APRN
Historic Davis Levin Livingston Place
Video Conference Facility
Sexual Abuse Victims
False Claim Act (Qui Tam)
Disabled Female Inmate Sues for Access to Services
By Shayna Coleon, Advertiser Staff Writer
HONOLULU – A disabled inmate at the Women's Community Correctional Center has filed suit against the Department of Public Safety and Hawaii Paroling Authority alleging she was denied equal access to facilities and services.
Charing Bernard, who is hearing impaired, filed the class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court today, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Bernard has been unable to participate in educational, rehabilitative, and religious activities and services because the state has denied her the services of a qualified interpreter, said Stan Levin, one of two attorneys representing her.
Posted By Davis Levin Livingston
Birth Defects (1)
Charitable Work (3)
Class Actions (4)
Consumer Law (1)
Fetal Distress (1)
Military Health Care (3)
Premise Liability (11)
Learn About Your Legal Options
Take the Next Step and Request Your Free Consultation
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Please enter your State.
400 Davis Levin Livingston Place 851 Fort Street Ste 400 , Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 740-0633 © All Rights Reserved


text:
Just Shoot Me! 1997
Just Shoot Me! is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC from March 4, 1997, to August 16, 2003, with 148 episodes produced. The show was created by Steven Levitan, the show's executive producer.
Stars: Laura San Giacomo, David Spade, Wendie Malick, George Segal, Enrico Colantoni
Director: Jeff Judah, Brad Grey, Gabe Sachs, Steven Levitan, Bernie Brillstein
1. Guess Who's Coming to Blush 2002-10-08
2. Mr. Jealousy 2002-10-15
3. Nina and the Rocker 2002-10-22
4. Halloween? Halloween! 2002-10-29
5. Da Sister Who Loved DiMauro 2002-11-12
6. That Burning Passion 2002-11-19
7. The Write Stuff 2002-12-03
8. It's Raining Babies 2003-01-07
9. Watch Your Backdraft 2003-01-14
10. Pictures of Lily 2003-04-22
11. The Comedy Stylings of Rivers & Red 2003-04-22
12. The Talented Mr. Finch 2003-07-12
13. There's Something About Allison 2003-07-12
14. Rivals in Romance 2003-07-19
15. A Simple Kiss of Fate 2003-07-19
16. Donnie Redeemed 2003-08-02
17. My Fair Finchy 2003-08-02
18. Son of a Preacher Man 2003-08-09
19. The Last Temptation of Elliott 2003-08-09
20. For the Last Time, I Do 2003-08-16
21. Future Issues 2003-08-16
22. Evaluate This! 2003-08-09
23. The Goodbye Girl 2003-08-16
24. Strange Bedfellows 2003-08-16
Party Down (2009)
A Grande Família (2001)
Good Luck Charlie (2010)
I'm in the Band (2009)
Designing Women (1986)
Green Acres (1965)
Spaced (1999)
The Thin Blue Line (1995)
The Jamie Foxx Show (1996)
My Name Is Earl (2005)
The Nanny (1993)
Spin City (1996)
Girlfriends (2000)
Malcolm in the Middle (2000)
Mama's Family (1983)
The Wayans Bros. (1995)
Becker (1998)
The Drew Carey Show (1995)
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996)
Mad About You (1992)
Rules of Engagement (2007)
The King of Queens (1998)
Wings (1990)
Dharma & Greg (1997)
Anger Management (2012)
According to Jim (2001)
Married... with Children (1987)
3rd Rock from the Sun (1996)
Cheers (1982)
Frasier (1993)
2 Broke Girls (2011)
Two and a Half Men (2003)


Our complete line of HVAC services include; but not limited to, air conditioning repair, heating service, hvac maintenance, ac repair, & new air conditioner system installation. We service & repair all major brands of A/C equipment for our neighbors in Allen Texas.
Our complete heating repair services include; but not limited to, gas furnace repair, heat pump repair & service, installation, & maintenance. We are proud to offer these services to both residential and commercial customers throughout Allen & all the surrounding areas.
We are full service HVAC contractor with over 20 years experience. We offer residents and businesses throughout Allen with same day air conditioning and heating service. We will never charge extra for nights or weekends. Should you need to replace your equipment we carry a complete line of major brands to include; but not limited to, Trane, Rheem, Ruud, Bryant, Carrier, Goodman, and Amana.


Code for good purpose. Code to win. Win for good. This sounds like a hack-a-thon, but it is one step beyond a traditional hack-a-thon. That one step makes a big difference because you code for real charity projects, a recent tradition at Symphony Solutions since 2014.
At the end of the weekend, they submit their prototypes or live websites, and one team wins. But all are winners in the eyes of the NGO's, because they would never be able to afford these projects on their limited budgets.
A recent KindHack project at Symphony Solutions in Macedonia was an online psychological referral service for an NGO, which was struggling to address the needs of their members 24 hours per day with just their phone lines. By the time they found an available psychologist, hours had passed. They needed a system to refer those in need to an available psychologist at any time and in a short time.
The KindHack team designed, developed and tested the online referral system. The NGO was very grateful, but the biggest beneficiaries were the members who got help and the psychologists who willingly donated their time.
Each project is different, but every project has a valuable aspect in common, real solutions for worthy projects. NGO's of all types submit projects, and the selection of 5 – 6 projects is always difficult.
1. Teachers Guild – They need an online service to unite the education community to share ideas and issues, to discuss problem areas, to spread learning.
categories of service, in Ukrainian and English.
We still have places for developers, designers, QA. If you have done this before, you will probably want to do another. If not, you may want to try. All are welcome.
For more information, click here to visit Facebook event page.


I received a small sample size Monu Firming moisterzier in the beauty bag last year. I was impressed with moisturiser so i decided to have a look into the Monu skincare range up until then i never heard of this brand. After reading some reviews decided to try Fiji oil. I been using this oil for the past 3 weeks and I Love it... when i first used it it i thought it moisturises my skin quite well and nothing amazing about it and i didn't see any firming effect then. but since i bought the product i decided to give it a try with "Monu rosewood reviving mist" as a toner followed by the Fiji Firming oil at night. I recently noticed that my pores have completely disappeared. Amazing product! highly recommended.
My skin has never looked better! I will never stop using this product!
Like loads of people commenting here, got the (generously sized) sample bottle a couple of months back. I've been back from Spain for a couple of weeks and my skin is feeling really dry so cracked this open yesterday and massaged it into my face a few times during the day (I work from home, so this isn't as mad a thing to do as it sounds!) and then last night before bed. Amazing! The product absorbs quickly (or my poor post-holiday skin was lapping it up really fast!) and the fragrance is beautiful - not too strong though and a very natural/aromatherapy kind of smell. Having it on your face makes you want to take the time to massage your skin too which can be no bad thing either. This morning, wow! Skin feels smooth and soft and looks less pallid and I swear my eyes are less puffy and baggy than usual! So whether it was massage or using it all day, not too fussed and am going to invest in it now. That said, I think the MONU oil played a part because there was a (tiny) sample of Nuxe oil (can't remember which one) in the same beauty box and I used that back in July and don't really remember it being that revolutionary - just a nice product and a treat to use it because of its distinctive smell. So not exactly a double-blind controlled trial or fair comparison, but am definitely more impressed and keen on the MONU oil! My skin is changing fast as I'm getting older and I'm thinking that facial oils, while not maybe that great an idea if you have youthful and/or oily skin, are the way forward for more mature faces which, if mine is anything to go by, do tend to get really quite dramatically dry as time marches on!
Like some of the other reviewers I received a sample of this oil in a beauty box. I am a big fan of facial oils so I was really keen to try it out. The texture of this oil is slightly viscous but not thick. It's light weight, sinks right in to the skin and smells so divine! It's a real treat to apply, kind of like an aromatherapy treatment. I have only worn it at night time since my skin tends to get oily during the day. Usually I'll layer it with my other serums and moisturisers but last night I was in a rush to get to bed and so I only spritzed my face with rosewater and applied this oil, really working it into the skin in upward strokes until my face felt warm. When I woke up this morning I wondered who this other woman was in the mirror looking back at me. I have good skin but you know how it can be when you wake up after sleeping hard... not that great! This morning my skin was so smooth, glowing and radiant that I just had to come and leave a review. I will immediately purchase the full size of this oil when I start running out. It's waiting in my cart this very moment!
I received this in my beauty box and was a little dubious as oils can be very greasy. This, however was easily absorbed and has cleared my skin and made it look radiant and it feels so soft. I do think my skin is slightly firmer too. A little really does go a long way. I will definitely purchase once my sample runs out.
Got a small sample in my monthly beauty box and was very impressed. I am not sure if it firms my skin but it has certainly made a difference to the texture and look. My skin looks better and the scent is lovely. I apply it after cleansing at night and only use a small amount. Stocked up when there was a discount and expect to keep using this product as long as it is available.
I loved this product so much when I received it in the Beauty Box that I purchased the full-size product straight away! It smells gorgeous and soaks into the skin straight away. I put it on my face, neck and chest area and it is particularly good for after a summer holiday when the skin is left a little parched! My skin feels a little oily to the touch but that's not a problem and by the morning, it is completely absorbed into the skin and my skin feels silky soft.
This smells great, very natural and adsorbs quickly leaving my face feeling great before bed and feeling moisturised when I wake up.


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text:
A Black-owned sober bar remains a lifeline to sobriety in tense times
Julie Kendrick
Photo: courtesy Chris Marshall
During the first quarter of 2020, everything was going great for Chris Marshall. In early March, he was six cities into a 15-city tour to promote Sans Bar, his three-year-old alcohol-free bar. But when he arrived in Portland to prepare for a March 7 event, Oregon moved to ban social gatherings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Marshall suspended the tour and flew home to Austin on a nearly empty plane. Back home, he shuttered Sans Bar, hoping he'd be able to reopen soon.
Sans Bar hasn't been open since.
Texas began reopening its bars May 1, but instead of joining the many Texas bar owners packing customers in shoulder-to-shoulder, Marshall decided to pivot and find ways to share the Sans Bar experience in a virtual way—while creating a new revenue stream. "This is a space for wellness and community, and as much as we need community right now, we need wellness more," Marshall says.
Marshall, 37, is a member of a number of communities that are each experiencing unprecedented pressures right now: Black men. Small business owners. Born-and-raised Texans. Recovering alcoholics. Leaders in the sober curious movement. With each conversation and connection, he's finding ways to navigate a path that makes sense for himself and for the future of his business.
Sans Bar has been holding monthly Sans Bar Where You Are online events that have been attracting hundreds of attendees (the April event attracted more than 250 people). After buying tickets in advance ($25 plus shipping), guests receive event kits that include ingredients for that night's featured mocktail, as well as other items to enhance the experience. A recent Pride-themed event included all the ingredients for the evening's drink (recipe card, bottle of DRY Soda, simple syrup from Portland Soda Works, and a fresh lime), rainbow Pride tattoos, and even a QR code for the evening's Spotify playlist, printed on what looked like a mini LP. "The idea is that the elements in the box will engage all your senses," Marshall says.
He and his team have been working to make sure the evenings are well worth the attendees' time. "We've been successful at taking these virtual gatherings to the next level," Marshall says. The June meeting included live music, spoken word, and a panel that included the executive director of Seattle Pride, Krystal Marx. Marshall prides himself on creating a "fun, festive feeling" at his virtual events. Viewers from home are invited to make the drink of the night together, and the panels always include a Q&A from the audience. An event with the New York–based sobriety/recovery nonprofit BIGVISION Foundation featured a DJ and a dance party. "It was nothing like a Zoom meeting, I can assure you," Marshall comments.
Marshall believes he's hit on a model that may be a template for others to imbue meaning into virtual gatherings. "This is what entertainment producers and people in other social-focused industries are going to have to do for the foreseeable future," he says.
It's a sentiment shared by others who have been a part of the events. Emily Lynn Paulson, who lives in Seattle, was on a recent panel for the Sans Bar virtual event held in April. She enjoyed the conversation, which she found interesting and educational, especially since it included a variety of people with different stories and backgrounds. "I also love that they're celebrating recovery, instead of only focusing only on the 'low points,' which is important, too, but these events are so positive and future-focused," she says. "I like that the events give people the opportunity to 'try out' sobriety by listening to stories of people who love and enjoy life without alcohol."
Karla Carolina Rosa, who lives in San Francisco, first got to know Marshall through the Sans Bar Instagram account and has now been to two virtual events. "There's something about the way Chris creates something interactive and fun," she says. "You can tell he thinks a lot about the flow of an event. He's creating the space and the platform that feels like home, and that allows people to come together, listen, get involved and feel heard. And by building this community, he's helping people feel more comfortable about their own choices."
After Sans Bar was included in a list of Black-owned businesses by Austin TV station KVUE, Marshall began receiving Venmo donations as well as offers of practical help: volunteers have stepped up to do his bookkeeping, redesign Sans Bar's website, and donate products for the virtual event kits. Many of the donors were white people who had been to Sans Bar. Marshall believes the pandemic has made people more aware of how their behavior has an impact on others, and the recent protests over the killing of George Floyd have raised awareness, particularly among white people, of racial injustice.
"There seems to be true interest in sustaining and growing Black businesses," Marshall says, "and in becoming allies in action, not just in words. We have a long history in this country of running to put out the flames of a fire without ever addressing what caused the first embers, and I hope that changes." Discussions about racial equality will be integral to future virtual events; eventually when the bar is finally able to open they'll continue in person. As a bar owner, Marshall believes it's his responsibility to create a space for these conversations.
He's also aware that Sans Bar is a lifeline for many people trying to maintain sobriety in a tense, isolated time. "Even though it's a welcoming and fun location for those who are sober-curious or who just want to enjoy a night out without alcohol, we're a special place for people in recovery, who really need routine and consistency in their lives. Losing this gathering place has taken all that away. It's heartbreaking, but I truly don't want to put anyone's health in danger by opening before it's safe."
In the meantime, in addition to using the interactive events to build connections and a sense of community, Sans Bar has continued to offer help via social media, where Marshall regularly posts resources for mental health and physical wellness.
"I guess on the one hand I can see what's happened since March as a downward spiral, but on the other hand, there's been a massive outpouring of community support, and I can't deny that it's a good thing," Marshall concludes. "Like a lot of people, my life is very much about duality these days—intense frustration on the one hand, and hopeful encouragement on the other. Right now, it's very clear to me that Sans Bar is surviving because the community is lifting it up."


A cooking class was conducted by the brand Freedom Refined Sunflower Oil for the eight time and Chef Puneet Mehta was the cook for the day reports F&B News. Chef Mehta has been a finalist in the second season of MasterChef India and this class was conducted for women in Hyderabad. The chef made exotic yet easy dishes using the brand oil.
The variety of dishes made at the event by Chef Mehta were taken from across the country like Bajre ki Raabadi from Rajasthan, Sarson main tangdi from Punjab, Makke ki roti, Gajar, Gobhi aur Shaljan achaar and Badam Pinniyan as well. He also made some international delicacies that included Hot n Sweet Chicken Wings, Chilli Garlic Okra, Meat balls in hot pepper sauce with spaghetti and so on.
Why Has Ram Vilas Paswan Called For 1000 Tonnes Of Onions?


FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to establish certain legislative findings, to reinstate the prohibition against certain acts causing the termination of an unborn human life, to prescribe a penalty therefor, and to provide for the implementation of such provisions under certain circumstances.
(3) "Fertilization," that point in time when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida of a female human ovum.
34-23A-2. An abortion may be performed in this state only if it is performed in compliance with § 34-23A-3, 34-23A-4, or 34-23A-5.
34-23A-3. An abortion may be performed by a physician during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The abortion decision and its effectuation must be left to the medical judgment of the pregnant woman's attending physician during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
34-23A-4. An abortion may be performed following the twelfth week of pregnancy and through the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy by a physician only in a hospital licensed under the provisions of chapter 34-12 or in a hospital operated by the United States, this state, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of either or in the case of hospital facilities not being available, in the licensed physician's medical clinic or office of practice subject to the requirements of § 34-23A-6.
34-23A-5. An abortion may be performed following the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy by a physician only in a hospital authorized under § 34-23A-4 and only if there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.
Section 11. If any court of law finds any provision of this Act to be unconstitutional, the other provisions of this Act are severable. If any court of law finds the provisions of this Act to be entirely or substantially unconstitutional, the provisions of § § 34-23A-2, 34-23A-3, 34-23A- 4, and 34-23A-5, as of June 30, 2006, are immediately reeffective.
Section 12. This Act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act.


text:
Alex Sokol Blosser
Co-President, Winemaker & Second Generation Winegrower
Alex Sokol Blosser, son of Sokol Blosser's founders, Susan Sokol Blosser and Bill Blosser, grew up working in the family vineyards and winery. Not much has changed. The strong pull of the family wine business kept pulling him back in from escapes to college in Texas, to a stint with the Air Force Reserves. The wine life had him and it just took a few years for him to realize that he really did love the business and wanted to make this his life's work.
In typical family business fashion, Alex has played many roles at Sokol Blosser from cellar rat, to Vineyard Manager, to Vice President of Sales. All these prior positions groomed him for his current and last position with the winery; that of Winemaker. Alex is only the fourth winemaker to walk the catwalks in the winery since the first vintage in the Dundee Hills in 1977. He has worked with and under all the previous winemakers and brings forward those learnings and a winemaking desire to fashion Pinot Noir that inspires the world.
Alex is grateful to have found a life partner with his wife Ginny, and for his two sons, Nikolas and Avery, for whom he tries but fails to beat in the card game Magic. He lives on the vineyard and when time allows he is often reading science fiction, riding his bike, watching the Tour de France, and pining for the day when the LA Dodgers raise the World Series title once again.
Hobbies: Reading, biking, archery, hiking, watching baseball, and gardening.
What You Like About Pinot Noir: It's a finesse wine. I like finesse.
Favorite Food: I eat everything.
Place You'd Like to Travel To: Everywhere. I like to travel.
Favorite Drink Besides Wine: I love a good iced tea.


The loss of human resource capacity has had a severe impact on the health system in South Africa. This study investigates the causes of migration focussing on the role of salaries and benefits. Health professionals from public, private and non-governmental (NGO) health facilities located in selected peri–urban and urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were surveyed about their current positions and attitudes toward migration.
The study uses cross-sectional data collected in 2009. A total of 694 health professionals (430 in the public sector, 133 in the NGO sector and 131 in the private sector) were surveyed. An additional 11 health professionals were purposively selected for in-depth interviews. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine whether salaries influenced HWs decisions to migrate.
HWs decision to move was not positively associated with lower salaries. It was found, instead, that the consideration to move was determined by other factors including age, levels of stress experienced and the extent to which they were satisfied at their current place of work.
The OSD appears to have lowered the risk of HWs migrating due to low salaries. However, the results also indicate that the South African Department of Health needs to improve working conditions for HWs within the public health sector to assist in retention.
The movement of health workers (HWs) both within and outside of South Africa has been recognised as a major problem for the health sector . This phenomenon, it is argued, is increasing the strain on the already burdened public health sector, precisely because it leads to a shortage of skills and subsequent loss of capacity for health systems to deliver adequate health care [2, 3]. The loss of HWs resulting from both internal and external movements places further pressure on remaining HWs by increasing their workload [4, 5]. The South African case is not an isolated one. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) also face severe shortages of HWs precisely because HWs choose to move to better resourced countries . The crisis is compounded by the fact that SSA countries have 25% of the world's disease burden, and yet, it possesses only 1.3% of trained human resources for health (HRH) . In South Africa, as a result of the movement of HWs, the doctor to population ratio was as low as 55 per 100,000 by 2010, whilst the nurse to population ratio had increased from 107 in 2003 to 383 per 100,000 [7, 8]. These data however masks the unequal distribution found between the private and public sectors and between urban and rural settings .
Several studies examining the movement of HWs highlight the impact that migration has on health systems in developing countries [9–12]. These studies, regional in nature, reveal common 'push' and 'pull' factors including: lack of established posts and career opportunities; lack of availability of training at advanced levels; poor provision of service benefits; high rates of crime and lack of a secure work environment. All of these factors influence HWs' decisions to migrate [13–15]. However, differences in potential earnings between source and destination are often posited as the key factor influencing the decision to move [3, 15–21]. This wage gap between earnings of HWs in developed and developing countries is significant . For example, an experienced theatre or intensive care unit nurse in South Africa earned about $9000 per year gross in 2005, whilst in Saudi Arabia the same nurse earned between $22,800 and $36,000 per year, tax free . The variation is even greater when we consider the purchasing power parity across different countries. Table 1 summarises the relative wage differences between various source and destination countries for HWs.
In South Africa, the movement of HWs occurs in three ways. There is movement from rural to urban areas, from public to private sectors and outmigration to predominantly wealthier countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia [5, 15, 20–25]. The international mobility of HWs is, of course a key concern but figures of how many individuals have emigrated are not always easily available, and when these have been presented, they are obtained from destination countries. To date, there is no information on the exact number of South African HWs working abroad. The 2004 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report is the only study presenting detailed data on the migration of HWs from South Africa . An extract of some of the data is presented in Table 2 and this shows that over 23,000 HWs had left South Africa up to 2004. The data is broken down in recognition of the fact that doctors, nurses and other health professionals have different education pathways, scopes of practice, and hence, their mobility potential will vary widely. Nonetheless, these figures are alarming and the real number is likely to be higher considering that some HWs travel on temporary visas and only become permanent much later . Other studies have oultined the migration of South African HWs in similar numbers which are consistent with the OECD data . The general indication is that compared to other professions (Education, Engineering and Accounting), the proportion of HWs migrating to wealthier economies is much higher . Africa Health Placements, a South African NGO, estimated that of the 2,400 South African medical doctor graduates in 2006 and 2007, 75% would work in the private sector with only 300 opting to work in the public health sector with as few as 70 choosing to work in rural health facilities . While in the past, movement tended to be among white males, seeking further training in developed countries, the trend today appears to be changing to include young, recently trained and mainly black nurses .
Decisions to move are linked to a web of intricate factors that have characterised the country over time. Specifically, the past political dispensation of apartheid led to large inequalities in service delivery which resulted mainly from the unequal distribution of expenditure budgets that favoured urban (mainly white) health facilities over rural (mainly black) health facilities. The effect of this is visible in the continuing differences in the quality of working environments and access to technology between urban and rural areas. The movement of HWs from rural areas to urban is facilitated by these differences but may also be determined by the higher salaries HWs earn in urban health facilities compared to rural health facilities [5, 26, 28–34].
In 2007, the South African Department of Health implemented the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) policy in the public sector . Dispensations for specific occupational categories included unique salary structures for each identified occupation, centrally determined grades and job profiles and career progression opportunities . The salary package included increases in the base salary, 13th cheque (bonus), pension fund, medical aid, scarce skills allowance, commuted overtime, and in some instances a rural allowance. The OSD was specifically developed to address the rural/urban divide. The OSD resulted in all HRH being re-graded according to their qualifications and years of experience and remunerated at higher levels . It was agreed that nursing would be the first profession to benefit from the OSD. Application to medical officers, medical specialists, dentists, pharmacists, and emergency medical services (EMS) occurred in 2008. The existing ranges of medical cadres were collapsed into one salary package . Once implemented in 2008/09, salary packages increased substantially across cadres . An entry level Medical Officer's salary package increased by 21%, whilst Medical Officers with over 10 years experience saw their packages increase by between 46% and 68%, with Medical Specialists with over 10 years experience received increases between 29% to 49% . Entry-level salaries for professional nurses and nursing assistants increased by 24%, while entry-level salaries for enrolled nurses increased by 20% .
Given the improved salaries and benefits that arose from the implementation of the OSD policy, this paper specifically investigates whether financial factors – in particular, salaries – are the primary reasons for HWs' motivation when considering moving from their current place of work. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to an enhanced understanding of the issues surrounding HWs internal (intra country) flows and external (out of country) movements.
The study uses cross-sectional data collected in late 2009. The study was undertaken in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), one of the nine provinces of South Africa, and the most affected by HIV/AIDS. Health workers from facilities located in urban (Durban) and peri-urban (Stanger) areas in KwaZulu-Natal were selected. The HWs came from public, private and non-governmental (NGO) health facilities. The sample was selected using a proportional sampling method, wherein the number of participants was proportional to the number of HWs working in selected facilities. The largest number of professionals was selected from public health facilities (N = 430), followed by the NGO (N = 133) and then the private health facilities (N = 131). Thus a total of 694 HWS were selected. An additional 11 health professionals were purposively selected for subsequent in-depth interviews to add to the depth of understanding from the survey results.
The survey instrument was based upon the Immpact Toolkit titled 'Health Worker Incentives Survey (HWIS)' from the University of Aberdeen . The focus was on HWs salaries and included sections covering their background, type of cadre, salaries earned, per diems, allowances and other benefits as well as any 'moonlighting' activities undertaken. Questions on job and workplace perceptions as well as questions on whether they considered moving, and, their preferred destinations, were included. These questionnaires were self-administered to doctors, professional nurses, enrolled nurses and nursing assistants.
The analysis focused on selected migration indicators; considering to move, and considering to move abroad. The bi-variate distributions of the outcomes of interest are first examined and then the results of multivariate tests for key outcomes are presented and discussed. The outcomes considering to move, and, considering to move abroad were operationalised as dichotomies. As such, logistic regression with odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these outcomes were used in the multivariate analysis. Besides the main predictor of interest, salaries, the multivariate tests included variables such as age, marital status, level of education, length of time in their current job, workload, stress levels and job satisfaction as control variables. In recognising that doctors, registered nurses, enrolled nurses and nursing assistants vary widely in their scope of practice and hence their migration potential may vary significantly, the different models also include job title as a control variable. Because some of the respondents were drawn from the same departments and therefore share some unobserved characteristics, we obtained conservative, robust standard error estimates (by using the Huber/White/Sandwich estimator) to reduce the bias that might result from observation clustering. The bi-variate analysis and the multivariate model estimations were calculated using STATA version 11.
Ethical approval was granted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Humanities Research Ethics Committee (Ethical Approval Number: HSS/0703/07) was obtained. All participants involved in the study were informed about the nature of the study and what their participation would entail. Electronic and hard copies of the data are stored under lock and key at the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) offices, and are only accessible to the researchers involved in the study who are bound by confidentiality agreements.
This study used of a cross-sectional design that entailed the gathering of data at only one point in time from nurses in selected health facilities in one province of South Africa. The generalisation of these findings to other HWs across the public, private and NGO sectors is limited by the proportional sampling method used and by the fact that the HWs participating in this study do not necessary represent HWs across the country working in these sectors . The study obtained data only from doctors in the public sector and not from the NGO or private sectors, thus limiting the ability to determine how salaries influence this cadre within these two sectors.
Overall, the HWs surveyed had a mean age of 37 years. These were predominantly female (89%), employed as professional or enrolled nurses or nursing assistants (95%) whilst only a small cohort of the sample were doctors (5%). A considerable proportion of HWs (40%) reported earning relatively low salaries, ranging between R2,000-R6,000 ($285-$856) per month. The South African Rand/US Dollar exchange rate at the time of data collection was seven Rands to the US Dollar.
Table 3 presents descriptive characteristics, divided across four distinct samples: public, private and NGO sectors and the total sample. The data reveals that a large proportion of HWs (77%) indicated that they were not satisfied with their current job and that the vast majority of those were considering moving from their current job (72% overall). Of those who considered moving, 59% were public sector HWs which was proportional to their sample size (61%). About two thirds of public HWs (67%) also felt that they had a heavier workload than their colleagues in the private and NGO health sectors. Only one third (32%) of the sample reported not experiencing any serious level of stress.
Notes: cell indicates the proportion present (versus absent) of the selected variable.
As the main focus of this paper, our analysis of preliminary associations presented in Table 4 shows the bi-variate analysis of the distribution of salaries earned, with the subsample of HWs who were considering moving (72%). At this level of analysis, we found no indications that low salaries were correlated with HWs decisions to move.
Cells indicate the proportion present versus absence of the selected variables above.
Chi square significance levels +p < 0.1, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
Total percent is a proportion of the N value underneath it.
Each dependent variable, i.e. considering to move, move abroad, private, NGO, and public health sectors is.
Presented with an associated chi square value and a corresponding level of significance.
The results of a multivariate logistic regression for the effect of salaries on HWs decision to move from their current work are presented in Table 5. Three Models were used for estimation purposes. The first Model (base Model) examined the effect of salaries without moderating for other variables. In this Model, the results which were moderate at the bi-variate level have become more pronounced. Earning lower salaries was not statistically significant and was not correlated with the decision of HWs to move from their current job. The second Model examined the effect of salaries controlling for the effect of socio-economic status (SES) characteristics. Even here, no significant results regarding the effect of salaries on HWs decision to move is observed. Instead, the results indicate that their decision to move from their current place of work was primarily influenced by their age. Accordingly, HWs were less likely to consider migrating as they got older (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.97). In-depth interviews corroborated these findings by suggesting that older HWs were attracted by a sense of stability, and therefore would not consider migrating.
Notes: Reference category in parenthesis.
Significant at + p < 0.1, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
OR: Odds ratios among lower and higher salary earners and other SES and work experience variables.
CI: Confidence interval at 95%.
Analysis controlling for both the SES characteristics and the work experience and perceptions of HWs is presented in Model three. When all these factors are controlled for, the results remain largely unchanged. Salaries still do not predict HWs decisions to move from their current place of work. We find, however, that in addition to age, the extent to which HWs were satisfied with their jobs (OR = 3.58, 95% CI: 1.72-4.54) and the level of stress experienced (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.21-1.01) also determined their decisions to consider moving. These two results are very statistically significant. In short, HWs who were not satisfied at work were three times more likely to move than their counterparts who were happy in their current job. HWs who reported that they were not stressed at work were 54% less likely to consider migrating from their current place of work. When moving abroad is used as a dependent variable, the same factors observed earlier are found to determine HWs decision to consider moving, as presented in Table 6.
Significant at + P < 0.1, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
Several studies in other countries have shown that economic factors are potentially the most significant reason as to why a large number of HWs move from one health sector to another, and are the most determinant factor explaining the movement of HWs to developed countries. In South Africa, economic reasons – salaries in particular – appear to have been one of the major reasons why HWs were migrating, particularly in earlier years (2002–2006) when major destination countries actively sought to recruit South Africa HWs. In an attempt to reduce these losses the South African Department of Health implemented the OSD policy in order to correct the large disparities in salary earnings between the private and public sector and between source (South Africa) and destination countries. Although the gap in salary earnings still exists in certain instances, it has been narrowed down by a considerable degree . As the results presented here indicate, HWs decisions to migrate are not linked to the salaries they earn in their current jobs. Instead, HWs decision to consider moving is largely influenced by their age, their level of stress at work and the extent to which they feel happy in their current job. Public sector HWs are particularly susceptible to migration due a number of challenges which this and other studies have found . Reasons for the desire to move out of the public sector and into the private sector or abroad revolve around both push and pull factors. The former includes those factors that make other settings more attractive than their current job, such as higher wages, better working conditions and better opportunities for professional advancement in foreign countries. The latter comprises factors which drive staff out of the public sector. For instance, lack of management support, lack of supervision, poor working conditions, work overload, emotional burn out, lack of appropriate resources and poor infrastructure . Much of the challenges faced by the public health care system are as a result of inadequate numbers of HWs. Overall, there is a shortage of 80,000 HWs in the public sector. Approximately 30% of medical practitioners, 60% of nurses and 15% of pharmacists are employed in the public sector, yet they serve approximately 85% of South Africa's population. Current production rates of HWs have not kept abreast of population growth rates and, without significant improvement, will not be able to offset the shortfall of HWs created by migration .
The results of this study resonate well with the long standing behavioural theories developed by Maslow and Herzberg which suggest that the movement of labour should be understood within the complex processes which shape aspects such as job satisfaction and several other aspects that affect an individual worker [43, 44]. Such processes include the extent to which work environments make for happier workers and are at the same time providing adequate motivation for workers. This is not the case in most developing countries where health facilities in general are characterised by poor infrastructure, management problems, unequal distribution of resources and high numbers of people seeking treatment, and in the case of South Africa accentuated by the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the population. Combined, these problems are likely to have an adverse effect on HWs' motivation levels and ultimately the ability to perform their work.
Despite public perceptions, the extent to which remuneration is the key motivating factor behind HWs movement within and out of South Africa has been overestimated. HWs decisions to move appear to be motivated by a mixture of factors including high levels of stress as a result of increased workloads and other challenges faced in their current job. The movement of HWs previously linked in the literature with lower salaries, appears to have been minimised by the implementation of the OSD policy by the South African Department of Health [40, 41]. However, the most pressing need is to rectify the mal-distribution of HWs between the public and private sectors and rural and urban areas. Thus, strategies aimed at ameliorating the impact of HW shortages should concentrate on the retention of HWs being produced whilst ensuring that working within the public sector is appealing to prospective employees. Improved salaries through the OSD have improved the economic position of public sector HWs yet non-financial challenges plaguing the sector are bigger deterrents to current and prospective HWs. The challenge for the South African Department of Health is improve the public health care system in order to enable HWs to perform their duties in suitable environments, to keep them motivated and intent on staying.
GG designed the study, interpreted the data and prepared the manuscript. MA conducted the analysis and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. JG interpreted the data and assisted in preparing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
GG is a Senior Researcher based at HEARD, UKZN, South Africa. MA is a former Junior Researcher at HEARD. JG is a Professor of Economics and the Economics and Politics Discipline Leader in the School of Commerce, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. JG is also a HEARD Research Associate.


It's UV Safety Month. Are you taking good care of your eyes? The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports long-term exposure to bright light from the sun can increase the risk of cataracts or other eye growths, including cancers. In just a few hours, that visit to the beach or lake might cause temporary blindness due to the strength of Ultraviolet rays reflected off the water and sand.
Remember: It doesn't have to be ultra-bright outside to benefit. UV rays still filter through the clouds. Wraparound glasses are also ideal protectants against debris and injury when doing summer tasks and activities, such as gardening, mowing, or a fun game of beach volleyball.
Diabetes — Reduced blood supply plus elevated blood glucose can show up as small red dots on the retina, small hemorrhages, and early cataracts.
Hypertension — Atherosclerosis blocks the retina's small blood vessels, leading to bleeding, blurring, and vision loss.
Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism — Inflammation and swelling are associated with thyroid eye disease, but the first sign is often proptosis or bulging eyes.
Connective tissue disorders — From rheumatoid arthritis to lupus, these and other joint-related conditions may manifest with dry eyes, itching, burning, swelling, and other problems.
Whether you're experiencing problems or not, your specialists in eye health recommend exams on at least an annual basis for those over 50 and at least every two to three years after age 40, for the good of your eyes and overall well-being.